Privacy Information for Children and Young People
This page explains what information I keep about you, why I need it and how I keep it safe. You can ask me, your parent or carer, or another trusted adult to explain anything you do not understand.
Who am I?
My name is Kelly Edwards. I am a counsellor at Kindred-Ear Therapeutic Counselling. When you have counselling with me, I need to keep some information so I can work with you safely and provide appropriate support.
What information do I keep?
I may keep:
your name, age and contact details
contact details for your parent, carer or another trusted adult
information about your health, wellbeing and safety
brief notes about your counselling sessions
information about appointments and payments
any important information you or your parent or carer shares with me
I only keep information that I need to support you, work safely and run my counselling service.
What about drawings and creative work?
You and I will agree what happens to drawings, writing or other creative work you make during counselling. They may be taken home, stored securely for another session, photographed with permission or safely destroyed.
I will not show your creative work to somebody else unless you agree, or it contains information needed to help keep you or somebody else safe.
Who can see my information?
What you tell me in counselling is treated as private. I also speak with a counselling supervisor to make sure I am supporting you safely and helpfully. I use as little identifying information as possible during supervision.
Your parent or carer will not normally be told the details of what you say. I may give them general information, such as whether counselling is continuing, or share something that we have agreed together.
When might information need to be shared?
I may need to share relevant information if:
you agree that I can share it
I am seriously worried that you or somebody else may be unsafe or at risk of harm
the law or a court requires or allows me to share it
emergency or safeguarding services need information to help keep somebody safe
I need confidential professional, legal or insurance advice
I will only share information that is relevant. Whenever it is safe and lawful, I will try to speak with you first and explain who needs to know and what may happen next.
How long do I keep counselling records?
I keep counselling records for a minimum of five years after your counselling ends. After that, they are securely destroyed unless they need to be kept longer because of a legal, safeguarding, complaint or insurance matter.
Can I see the information kept about me?
You can ask what information I hold about you and may have the right to receive a copy. You can also ask me to correct information that is wrong.
A parent or carer may sometimes ask for information. I will consider your age, understanding, privacy, safety and the law. I will not automatically give them the details of your counselling sessions.
Some information may be withheld if sharing it could cause serious harm or reveal private information about somebody else.
What can you ask me to do?
You can ask me to:
explain how your information is used
show you information you are entitled to see
correct information that is wrong
delete or stop using information in some circumstances
Sometimes I may need to keep or use information because of safeguarding, legal, professional or insurance responsibilities. If this happens, I will explain why in a way you can understand.
Questions or worries
You can ask me questions about your information at any time. You can also speak to a parent, carer or another trusted adult.
Email: kelly@kindred-ear.com
If you are unhappy with how your information has been used, you can contact the Information Commissioner’s Office at www.ico.org.uk or call 0303 123 1113.
This child-friendly summary supports, but does not replace, the full Kindred-Ear Privacy Notice.